When you have a big group (like in children’s ministry or youth ministry), there will be times you would need to divide them into smaller groups or teams. In kidmin, it helps us execute activities and games smoothly. It also helps us stay in control of the group. Dividing into smaller groups can break up cliques and encourage people to get to know others.
I truly laughed out loud when I opened the pack of Twix to find that they were divided into Left and Right Twix. It was also a lightbulb moment, a great way to easily create a teams or mix up a big group of people. It’s also an easy icebreaker.
To create teams, place Left and Right Twix bars into a bowl and have people randomly pick one. What they pick is the team they’re on. This works well if you know how many people is attending your event/meeting/class/etc. Place the same number of Twix in the bowl as the number of people attending. That way, you’ll have (more or less) even teams.
To break the ice, have Right Twix and Left Twix people partner up and ask each other get-to-know-you questions or questions pertaining to your event/meeting/class/etc. Here are some examples:
- What’s your favorite candy bar?
- What’s the last TV series you binged watch?
- Where’s your dream vacation?
- What’s your position or role in this company?
- Why are you [taking this class/volunteering here/etc.]?
- What’s your best leadership advice?
- What are you currently reading?
I have a small kidmin team, and I try to do an icebreaker when we meet. Here are my favorite small group icebreakers.
Roll and Answer
Materials you need: 1 dice, six numbered questions/task
How to play: Take turns rolling the dice. Whatever number they land on, they have to answer the corresponding question or do the task. For example:
- What’s the last movie you saw?
- What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
- If you had a million dollars and can’t spend it to benefit yourself, what would you do with it?
- Show us the last picture you took on your phone.
- Show us a hidden talent.
- Teach us something.
Would You Rather
Materials you need: none
How to play: Take turns asking the person to your left a “Would you rather” question.
This game have taken us into silly and serious directions.
This or That
Materials you need: none
How to play: Take turns asking the person to your left a “This or That” question. For example:
- Tea or coffee
- Pancakes or waffles
- Travel by plane or by car
- Read a book or listen to an audiobook
- Right Twix or Left Twix
You might have noticed that my favorite icebreakers don’t get people up and moving. That’s on purpose for my team because we either meet in a small room at church or out for coffee, tea, or lunch.
A funny icebreaker that I’m bad at because I crack up laughing, but has a little bit of moving and works within a small room is Who Am I?
Materials you need: none
How to play: Taking turns, have one person stand facing a wall and unable to see the rest of the group. Silently pick a second person to come up behind the first person and ask, “Who am I?” in any voice or accent they choose. After the second person sits down, the first person turns around and guesses who asked the question.
Your turn! What are your favorite icebreakers?
